Bertha Elizabeth Cochran

Bertha West Cochran, longtime resident of Odessa, died on April 28, 2011, in Abilene.

She was born August 6, 1916, in Canton, Mississippi, to John Milton and Bertha (Billingslea) West. At age 3, she and her family moved to El Paso. She graduated from Austin High School and, upon graduation in 1936 from what is now The University of Texas at El Paso, began her teaching career in Ft. Hancock, Texas. She married Frankie Lee Cochran on March 18, 1939 in El Paso and they moved to Odessa later that same day.

She is survived by her children, Dorothy Jeanne Childs of New York City, Joe Allan Cochran of Odessa, Frankie Lee Cochran II of Sulphur Springs, Madelyn Farmer of Shafter, Virginia Cochran of Denver, and Janis Test of Abilene. She is also survived by fifteen grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Frankie, her three sisters, Mary T. Ferro, Georgia Belle McNeese, Virginia Flynt Green, her brother, Dr. John O. West and a granddaughter, Julie Elizabeth Wilson.

Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday, May 6, 2011 at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 7, 2011, also at Hubbard-Kelly, with Rev. Curtis Brewer officiating.

Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home of Odessa.